Quality Gap Still Evident Between U.S., Mexico

Snowden Says... Despite a 2-2 draw to Mexico at midweek, Soccer365 Snowden believes the U.S. is still playing catch up with their southern neighbors especially when it comes to creative play.

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Richard Snowden, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. How could you say that a team that never trailed and was only scored on from poor marking on set pieces (from a third string defender trying to get experience at national team level) was lucky to escape with a tie. 

Even when the US plays poorly starting 4 dismal players Convey, Clark, Corrales, and Moor (the left side of the field and both outside backs) how many goals did the skillful forwards or even midfielders of Mexico put in? Jonny Magallón is a defender that with Chivas de Guadalajara. HE is no more skilled than any of us players and he put in both goals because Drew Moor is terrible and will never play again. 

Mexico was lucky to escape with a tie and if Bradley would have pulled the outside backs rather than Dempsey there would have been a different outcome. Oh and Bradley was dead on. He was referring to the center midfielders and defense relieving the pressure of Mexico, namely his son who tried to dribble in the middle too much and got it stolen several times. Pretty much the only part of that uninspired rant worth listening to was that Donovan played bad but regardless he had an assist. Did you even watch the game??

Can anyone say 8-0-2 in 8 years?

Greg F

I completely AGREE with Snowden's assessment of the US v Mexico game.

US players' were abysmal - being outplayed just about in every position.

What is Bradley thinking ? Players like Convey, Moore and even Donovan do NOT belong on the field whatsoever - PULL them out when you see that they're Outclassed !!!

There are plenty of younger players that need the experience to play against quality opponents.

I think Bradley should be replaced sooner than later - his emphasis on fielding players and not adjusting in a timely manner is just not acceptable.

R. TAN
Las Vegas

All of what Snowden says might be true, but the bottom line is the result, and so far, the US has Mexico's number when playing in the USA.  I don't really care if Mexico has the ball for 89 minutes - if the US has the ball for 1 minute, scores and wins 1-0...THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTS!

Robert
Raleigh, NC

I did not like at all how the US played last night!! We didn’t have the ball at all, I couldn’t figure out if Landon Donovan was playing or not because he never got the ball. It seemed like he was afraid.  The only one who seemed that wanted to play was Dempsey, I don’t know why in the world bob Bradley took him out!!! I was so pissed.  He should have subbed Donovan out instead of Dempsey.  I don’t know why Corrales and moor started and played the whole game!!! Benny Feilhaber should have been on the starting eleven.  I think Adu and Edu should have gone in a little earlier and Tim Howard had an excellent game. If it wasn’t for him, we would of lost very very bad

Victor V

BRAVO, Rich Snowdens recent article nails it. Instead of looking at developing players from the point of comfort on the ball, decision-making, and field vision as the most important raw criteria for development, it's the same old view, the kid is not big enough. Case in point, the ODP program never selected Edgar Castillo, Mexican American born in NM, for any selection teams because he was not big enough and his attitude was questionable. Hark, today this 19 year old is playing on a first division Mexian squad and is a full member of the Mexican National Team. Too small indeed. Here is a bonifide player who is American born and never given a look in American soccer circles. IMO, there are many more Castillos in American soccer. The question is whether size will preculde them from being given a chance to reach the next levels.

In soccer,
juke
west mifflin, pa